Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a fiction and non-fiction writer. In fiction, I write romance, romantic comedy and magical realism. In non-fiction, I write about fitness, wellness, self-help, psychology and war trauma.
I have written several manuscripts over the years and been close to publication many times. However, I remained close but not published traditionally, so I decided to eliminate frustration by moving into self-publishing. This experiment is currently in process. I’ll be happy to share if it worked once I found out.
When I’m not writing, I work as a certified personal trainer or as a pre-licensed marriage and family therapist.
I currently live in the Los Angeles area, but I am originally from Germany where I worked as an actress and muscial theater performer. I wrote in Germany too and I was published in magazines.
Why I came to the US and why I stayed is not quite clear to me either. I first came here to attend an acting school almost 20 years ago. I meant to go home afterwards, but I somehow ended up married to an American. I think that’s what may have done it; I stayed. I still live with this American man and far too many rescue animals in an old craftsmanship house by the beach.
It took me about 10 years to be able to learn English well enough so that I could write in English. I’m now a dual citizen and I try to go back and forth between continents as often as possible. The breeze across the Atlantic is invigorating. I recommend it.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first self-published book is “Bodysculpting for Bombshells – Fast and Easy Fitness for Loving Your Body and Feeling Desirable”.
To be very honest, I was so terrified of self-publishing that I chose to re-write a free fitness ebook I had featured on my personal training website for many years over self-publishing one of my novels. The fitness ebook was well received by clients who couldn’t afford personal training, and I wrote it to provide these people with a safe and easy-to-follow fitness guide.
When I re-wrote this book, I had earned 2 Masters degrees in psychology and my perspective had changed from focusing on safe exercise technique to positive body image and womens’ empowerment.
“Bodysculpting for Bombshells” is now an upbeat feel-beautiful book; one that utilizes exercise as a tool for feeling good in one’s own skin versus a book that’s solely written about exercise.
Besides, I’m not a great fan of fitness books. They can be awfully dry to read and I wanted to save my readers from the dreadful chore of educating themselves with a boring book.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure if it is unusual for a writer to want long hours alone every day, and for the world to go away. That’s about as unusual as it gets. I like to work very long days as a personal trainer so I can afford entire days alone at home during the week.
The best thing about my husband is that he goes to work on those days and leaves me alone, and that he doesn’t mind.
I do have a quirk about Trader Joe’s gummi bears imported from France. Gummi bears are the best remedy for writer’s block, or any other block that really stems from bouts of perceived inadequacy. When feeling stuck, have a French gummi bear.
Oh, I do have another quirk. I always dress up for writing. I can’t imagine writing in pajamas or sweat pants. I don’t own pajamas. But I’m pretty sure my muses are offended and won’t show up if I’m not dressed up for them.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love books and the written word more than anything, so the list would be nearly endless.
The crime author Lynn Hightower influenced me greatly through her detail oriented writing style and outstanding writing classes.
I love Audrey Nieffenegger’s “The Time Traveller’s Wife” for magical realism. One of my favorite books is “White Oleander”.
I love “Those who saved us” about WW2 trauma.
I can never turn down Emily Giffin because of her psychological character development, and I can’t say no to anything by Jennifer Crusie because her romances make me laugh.
What are you working on now?
Courage. I’m working on the courage to self-publish my novel “The Creed”, which was almost published many times and was nominated for he 2011 Kirkwood Award.
Afterwards, I want to polish a few other dusty old manuscripts listed on my website and publish them, and of course I would like to continue on a womens’ fitness series.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I can’t answer this question yet. I’m too inexperienced. I’m running an experiement what works and what doesn’t. I’ll be happy to share when I know. Advice is also welcome.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do it anyway. If you know you are a writer because it is what makes you happy, because it makes you feel at one with the world or the rest of the universe, because you become peaceful inside and more loving towards yourself and others, do it anyway. Keep doing it. Keep writing and finding ways of sharing your writing.
Enjoy the process of being a writer and embrace the obstacles or problems that come with it as “privileged problems”. Since everything worthwhile tends to come with an amount of struggle, we are lucky if we may struggle with what we love the most.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It’s similar to what I wrote above. Since everything worthwhile is hard and has struggle attached to it, we might as well struggle with what we love. The architect Michael Lehrer gave me this advice.
It made it possible for me to realize that struggling with writing or getting published didn’t mean I wasn’t good enough. It only meant I was having a normal experience.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading the Spiegel daily, a German political magazine, because I’m interested in the influx and crisis of Syrian refugees in Europe.
I’m out of novels, which is a serious problem.
What’s next for you as a writer?
More work. A lot more work. I’m learning about marketing, which I find dreadfully overwhelming. I want to publish a print edition of “Bodysculpting for Bombshells” within the next few weeks, and then publish my first novel.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Audrey Nieffenegger “The Time Traveller’s Wife”
Lynn Hightower “Fortunes of the Dead”
Stephenie Meyer “The Host”
Author Websites and Profiles
Vivi Stutz Website
Vivi Stutz Amazon Profile